Coin-controlled vending-machine.



l R. SARAC.

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE.

` APPLICATION FILE D MAY I1, 1914. 1,16%661., Patented 1311.11, 1916.

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R. SARAC.

vcolN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHlNE.

. APPLICATION FILED MAY Il, I9I4. mmm.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

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R. SARAC.

COIN CONTROLLED lVENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION -FILED MAY Il i914.

1,167,661 Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

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RAiDE SARAC, F SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

COIN-CONTROLLED lVENDING-MACHINIJ.

To all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RADE SARAC, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at South Bend, in the county of St.

Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin Controlled Vending Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a coin-controlled article-delivery mechanism, wherein provision is made for the automatic delivery of distinctive articles, such as a cigarA and a match, after the insertion of a proper coin and the manual operation of mechanism set free for such operation by the coin.

`One of the objects of the present invention is the provision in a machine of this class of coin-controlled locking means normally holding all operative mechanism against actuation, the operative mechanism being further locked against complete actuation by means which is also controlled by the coin, whereby the coin serves to initially release the lirst lockingmeans and subsequently release the second locking means.

A further object is the provision in a ma chine of this class of a cigar container and a match container simultaneously operated in a complete cycle of operation to deliver a cigar and a match.

'lhe invention in the preferred form of details will be described in the following speciication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the improved machine. Fig. 2 is a transversesection of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation showing the coin control and operating mechanism, the casing being an removed. Fig. 4 is a plan of the same. Fig.

5 is a side elevation of the same.. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the coin control locking means. Fig. 7 isa similar View taken at right angles to Fig. 6. Fig. 8l

a5 ,is a plan of the same. Fig. Q is a plan of the platform locking mea/ns. Fig. 10 1s an end view of such means. Fig. 11 is an end view of the locking projection carried by the platform.

In the preferred embodiment of the presf ent machine, the same comprises a base 1 preferably of hollow construction havlng a circular casing 2 supported on the upper end thereof, from which circular casing rises a dome-like casing 3. The casing parts are preferably, but not necessarlly, constructed Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

Application led May 11, 1914. Serial No. 837,932.

of sheet metal, connected in any appropriate manner and adapted for removable connection when desired, each casing being closed against the other, except as hereinafter noted.

Rotatably mounted in the casing 2 is a drum t including an annular rim 5 in which 1s formed a series of pockets 6 adapted to contain the article to be vended, in this instance cigars. The peripheral surface of the rim is formed at the respective ends of the pockets with flanges 7 providing end walls l the base is a rectangular box-like member 10,

arranged wholly to one side of the frame so as to project through an opening 11 in the casing 3. This member 10 constitutes the coin chute, being fully open at the bottom, and closed at the top except for a slot 12 of a size to receive the coins, and so located as to be accessible from beyond the casing 3. The bottom of the casing 10 also opens beyond the casing 3 so that improper coins introduced therein will fall through the bottom of such chute. The chute is provided on its side Walls with guide ribs 13 inclining downwardly and inwardly so as to direct a proper coin in such direction, the ribs being so spaced with relation to each other that a coin of less than appropriate size will fall between the ribs and through the bottom of the chute. Secured to the supporting frame outwardly beyond and in spaced relation to the uprights supporting the coin chute is a plate 14, between which and said supporting frame member the coin is moved and guided in an upright position.

Pivotally supported in a bracket 15 secured to the inner side of the frame bar 9 supporting the chute is a trip lever 16, the lower or inner end of which is provided with a weight 17, which so balances the lever as to normally maintain it in locking position. The weightedend of the lever is provided with a lateral lip 18 which projects through an opening 19 in the frame bar 9.

and in the path of the descending coin, the lip being slightly inclined to the path of movement of such coin, so that in the travel of the coin past the lip the lever will be swung on its pivot to what may be termed the release position, as will hereinafter apear.. p Slidably mounted upon upright-s of the su porting frame is a platform 20, from whic 1, by means of a suitable web structure 21, rises a rack-bar 22, by means of which the platform is operated. Mounted in bearings 23 rising from the supporting frame is an operating shaft 24, one end of which extends beyond ,the casing 3 and is provided with a crank handle 25. Within the casing the shaft is provided with a gear pinion 26, mutilated, in that a portion of its periphery is without teeth, the number and location of the teeth on the pinion being sufficient to so operate the rack as to depress the platform the required distance. The shaft 24 is provided beyond the pinion 26 with a projection 27 with which the free end of the lever 16 is arranged to coperate when said lever is in normal or locking position. In this position the initial teeth of the pinion are in mesh with the rack, but the operating shaft cannot be turned. The shaft is also provided with a ratchet 28 engaged by a springpressed pawl arm 29 carried by the frame to prevent backward rotation of the shaft.

Mounted upon a support 30 rising from the base of the frame 9 is the platform locking means including coperating levers 31 pivotally mounted upon the support 30 in Scissors fashion, so that their respective ends are normally in contact and in horizontal alinement. .At the` forward ends, that is, the ends remote from the platform the said locking levers 31 are slightly beveled outwardly on their inner or proximate4 edges as at 32, while at their inner or rear endsA their upper edges meet squarely to present an unbroken surface, while their lower edges at such inner ends are upwardly and inwardly beveled on their proximate faces, as at 33, Fig. 10. -The-platform 2O carries a coperating bar 34 projecting beyond the edge of the platform in the form of a lug 35. This lug travels in a path in which is disposed the inner ends of the locking levers 31, so that when the levers remain closed the lug cannot pass and hence the platform is held against a completely operative downward movement. In end elevation, as shown in Fig. 11, the lug 35 is of triangular formation, as at 36, the apex being at the top.

To permit a proper descent of the platform it is obvious that means must be provided for initially opening the levers 31, and

to't'his end I provide a lock release in the form of a plate 37 guided through the me dium of a slot and bar connection with the frame as at 38 and spring-pressed in an upward direction through the medium of a spi-ing 39. The plate is positioned to one side of the coin chute and has a lateral shoulder 40 projecting into the coin way so as to arrest the descent of the coin. The lower end of the plate 37 has a lateral extension 41` extending toward the platform and ,terminally supporting a depending triangular finger 42 adapted to immediately overlie the outer ends of the levers 31 so that in the descent of the plate the outer ends of said levers will be forced apart against the tension of springs 43, the pointed end of the finger 42 initially riding into the slightly beveled depression 32. This opens the levers at their rear ends so that the lug 35 of the platform may freely pass, the lug in its upward movement itself opening the levers through its triangular formation and the beveled opening. 33 in said levers.

Platform 2O is provided with an arm 44 extending toward the coin way and carrying a pivoted presser finger 45 terminating in a point 46 projecting through slots 47 1n the walls of the coin way in the path of the coin. The presser finger is, through the medium of a lug 48, bearing against the arm, held against independent pivotal movement in the upward direction, while being permitted free pivotal movement in the downward direction. By this means the ycoin may freely pass the finger by deflecting the same, the finger returning. to normal position above the coin after passage of the. coin. The wall of the coin Wa y next the lever 16 is, im-

mediately above the slot 47, extended in the form of a beveled depression 49, which as the platform rises to an inoperative position will swing/the finger 45 clear of ythe coin way, vto avoid interference with an introduced coin.

The bottom of the coin way communicates with. a coin box'50 secured in part upon both the casings 2 and 3, the coin box having. a lock drawer or other suitable means for holding the coins. The `bottom of the casing 2 within the plane of the base cas- Iing 1 Yis formed with an opening 51 with which the pockets 6 successively register,

and a discharge chute 52 is in communicav vanced the distance of a single tooth, thereby dropping the neXt succeeding article into the discharge chute 52.

In operation, assuming the parts constructed and arranged as described, a proper coin introduced into the chute will, through the lip 18, swing the lever 16 on its pivot to disengage the free end of said lever from the locking projection 27. On rotation of the shaft 24 which is now free to rotate the pinion 26, through engagement with the rack 22, will depress the platform. This movement causes the pressure finger 45 to move the coin downwardly carrying with it the plate 37, opening the platform lock, and permitting the latter to move to the full limit to'operate the drum. That side of the coin way opposite the plate 37 is provided with`a guide 56 which terminates at the lower limit of operative movement of the coin, so that at this point the coin moves laterally, freeing the plate 37 to the infiuence of the spring 39 for the return of the plate to normal position.

As the improvement is designed as a cigar vending machine it is also contemplated to simultaneously with the delivery of a cigar to also deliver a match. To secure this result I mount upon the platform through means of a hollow standard 57 a match receptacle 58 having afalse bottom 59 there in formed by downwardly and inwardly inclined plates which direct all matches toward the center. Fixed upon the supporting frame is a rod 60 which passes upwardly through the platform, through the standard 57, and through an opening in the false bottom terminating in a transverse grooved head 61, of a size to coperate with a single match. AThe upper end of the match receptacle 58 is formed with a delivery opening 62 terminating in spring fingers 63 having opposing notches 64 to receive and hold a match forced therebetween, the finger being preferably arranged in spaced pairs as shown in Fig. 5, andthe parts of such sizes and so located that in the normal position of the parts the spring fingers project through an opening 65 in the top of the casing 3.

From the above description it will be obvious that as the platform descends the match receptacle is moved downwardly, and as the rod 60 remains stationary, a match will be forced between the fingers 63 and held in the notches 64. Upon the return of the parts to normal position the match so held will be presented through and beyond the opening in the casing, so that it may be readily removed by the customer. If desired the delivery drum may be 'provided with a vspring clapper 66 adapted to actuate a bell 67 arranged withinthe casing 2 so as to notify when the drum is empty, the wall of the casing 2 being provided with an inspection opening 68, if such is preferred. I also prefer to utilize a spring 69 for returning the platform to normal position, it being understood that the mutilated pinion engages the rack for the operative depression of the platform only, and thatat the completion of such depression the teeth disengage the rack and the spring 69 operates.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A vending machine yincluding a vplatform, means for moving the platform in one direction, levers adapted when in closed relation to interpose a -stop in the path of movement of the platform, a release member for opening the levers to permit movement of the platform, and means on said platform serving to initially actuate the release member through the coperation of a selective element to be interposed between said second named means and said member.

2. A vending machine including a platform, means for moving the platform in one direction, a lug carried by the platform, pivotally connected levers adapted when in contact to interpose a stop in the path of movement of said lug, a release member for opening the levers to free the path of movement of the lug from obstructions, said lock release being adapted to be operatively connected to the platform through the use of a. predetermined coin.

3. A locking means for the actuating member of a .vending machine including pivotally connected levers, a lug carried by the actuating member, said levers when in closed relation presenting a stop in the path of the lug, the levers in open position permitting the passage of the lug between them, a lock release for opening the levers, an actuating means for the member, said actuating member being normally free of connection with the lock release and adapted to be operatively connected thereto by a predetermined com.

4i. A vending machine including a platform, means for moving the platform in one direction, a lug carried bv the platform, pivotally connected levers adapted when in contact to interpose a stop in the path of movement of said lug, a plate operable to open the levers to displace the stop, and means carried bythe platform for operating the plate through the medium of an interposed com. A

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RADE SARAC.

W'itnesses: v

L. W. Coon, GEORGE J. On'rscH. 

